Top or closure for tooth-powder bottles or cans or other containers.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

H. B. KENT.

TOP OR CLOSURE FOR TOOTH POWDER BOTTLES OR OANS OR OTHER CONTAINERS. APPLIGATIONY FILED FEB.25,1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

H. B. KENT. TOP OR CLOSURE FOR TOOTH POWDER BOTTLES OR CANS OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

llH HI" UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

HEN RY B. KENT, OF'NEVV BRUNS'TVIGK, NEVV JERSEY.

TOP OR CLOSURE FOR TOOTH-POWDER BOTTLES 0R CANS OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,986, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed February 25,1904. Serial No. 195,297. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. Kenna citizen of the United States, residing at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops or Closures for Tooth-Powder Bottles or Cans or other Containers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tops and closures for tooth-powder bottles and cans or other containers, and has for its object to provide a closing device which when adjusted to a determined position will automatically open or close and will remain open raised to expose the discharge-orifice.

or. closed or may be locked by another movement in open position and which when opened or closed will be securely locked or retained against casual displacement.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a top or stopper embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, showing the top Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical section showing a modification in the spring-opener. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the means for retaining the cap in open position. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing another modification of the means for holding the cap open. Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing still another modification of the means for holding the cap open, and Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, 1 represents the top or stopper of a container for tooth-powder or other substances, which may be of a form adapted to be secured in any suitable manner around the upper end I neck.

of a can or of a form to it within the neck of a bottle. This top is provided with a neck portion 2, closed at its upper or outer end by a top or crown wall 3 and provided in its side with a discharge-orifice 4E. Fitted to slide longitudinally on the neck is a cap 5, which when raised and lowered, respectively, uncovers and covers the said orifice 4 to permit of the discharge of the contents of the container or cut off the discharge of the same. This cap is provided at its upper end with a milled rim or bead 6 to enable it to be conveniently gripped and adjusted and has a cylindrical body portion 7, which conforms, substantially, to the length and contour of the The portion 7 is adapted when the cap is adjusted to the limit of its outward and inward movements to respectively engage outwardly-flared portions 8 and 9, formed at the upper and lower ends of the neck and to bind or wedge thereon, so that in one position sufficient frictional engagement will be afforded to hold the cap elevated and in the other position sufficient frictional engagement will be afforded to hold the cap depressed or closed.

An indicator of any preferred type is employed to enable the discharge-opening 4 to be conveniently located when the cap is closed. This is shown in the present instance in the form of an arrow arranged upon the top or stopper 1, preferably impressed in the same, the said arrow indicating that point in .the

circumference of the neck in which the orifice is located, so as to prevent accidental spilling of the contents of the container by the tilting of the same when the opening is exposed and turned away from the view of the user or operator.

Extending through the top or crown 3 of the neck is a rod or stem 10, which is rigidly secured at its upper end to the top or crown wall of the cap 5, preferably by upsetting or heading its upper end, as shown at 11. The lower end of this rod or stem is provided with a head 12, and surrounding the inclosed portion of the stem within the neck 2 is a coiled spring 13, bearing at one end against said head 12 and at the opposite end against the wall 3 of the neck. This spring opposes a resistance to the upward or opening movement of the cap 5, and by its reaction serves to return the cap to its closed position. In order to open the cap to expose the orifice & and discharge the contents of the container, the rim portion 6 is gripped and the cap drawn upwa d or outward until the lower portion of the top 5 thereof frictionally engages the flared portion 8 of the neck, whereupon sufficient frictional contact will be afforded to prevent the cap from closing under the retractive movement of the spring. The cap will thus be held open to allow a desired quantity of the contents of the container to be discharged through the orifice 1. To close the orifice, it is simply necessary to press the cap inward or downward until the portion 7 is released from engagement with the portion 8, whereupon the spring 13 will contract and return the cap to its closed position. In thus closing the cap will engage the flared portion 9, thus effecting a close engagement between the cap and neck to prevent any possible waste of contents through the orifice 4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings a spring is provided to automatically open instead of close the cap, and in this form of the invention the spring 13 is arranged on the stem 10' between the top of the cap and the top of the neck and exerts its expansive action to force the top upward or outward. In this construction the flared portions 8 and 9 of the neck are also employed, the former to limit the outward movement of the cap and the latter to effect a tight connection, as before, between the cap and neck when the cap is closed.

Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, show modifications in the means for holding the cap open or closed and limiting the outward movement of the cap. In Figs. 5 and 6 this is effected by providing the neck 2 at opposite sides with longitudinal grooves 1 1, which in the arrangement shown are provided at their upper ends with lateral offsets 15, said grooves receiving projections 16, extending inwardly from the cap and formed by indenting the same. These grooves and projections guide the caps on the neck and prevent turning thereof until the projections come opposite the offsets 13, when by partially turning the cap the projections may be brought into said offsets, when the cap will be locked against downward movement and will beheld open against the action of the spring to allow the contents of the container to be discharged through the orifice 4. By turning the cap back to its former position the projections will again be brought into the vertical portions of the grooves and the spring will close the cap in the manner previously described. In the construction shown in Fig. 7 a single groove 14 of T- form is provided and coacts with a similar projection 16, which when the cap is adjusted to its open position and turned to the right or left may be brought into either lateral portion of the cross-portion 15' of the groove toloek the cap in such position. By turning the cap back to its original position the spring will close the same in the manner previously described. In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the neck is provided with a groove 14: communicating at its upper end with a groove 15, extending circumferentially around the upper portion of the neck and adapted to coact with the projection 16 in a manner similar to the parts 15 and 15 of the grooves 1 1 and 1 1, said circumferential groove, however, permitting the cap to be turned in either direction to any desired circumferential extent to retain it in open position. The mode of effecting the closing of the cap in this construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. It will be understood, of course, that these various forms of grooves may be also employed in connection with the structure shown in 4 by a simple reversal of their position namely, by arranging the portions 15, 15, or 15 at the base of the neck instead of the top thereof, so that the projections engaging the same will lock the cap against opening instead of closing movement.

In the operation of the cap it will be seen that the stem 10 or 10 forms a guide which prevents the cap from canting and binding on the neck, and thereby permits the spring to close or open the cap, according to its arrangement, without interference.

A top and closure as thus constructed is simple, durable, and effective, may be cheaply made, and is adapted to prevent waste of the contents of the container.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A top or stopper for containers having a neck provided with a discharge-orifice, a cap movable longitudinally on the neck to open and close said orifice, a spring for automatically adjusting the cap to one position, and means for retaining the cap in its other position against the action of said spring, substantially as described.

2. A top or stopper for containers having a neck provided with a discharge-orifice, a cap movable longitudinally on the neck to open and close said orifice, a spring for automatically adjusting the cap to one position, and means coacting between the neck and cap for retaining the cap in its other position against the action of said spring, substantially as described.

3. A top or stopper for containers having a neck, provided with a discharge-orifice, a cap movable longitudinally 0n the neck to open and close said orifice, a spring for automatically adjusting the cap to one position, and means coacting between the neck and cap and operative upon a partial rotation of the cap to retain the cap in its other position against the action of said spring, substantially as described.

4,. A top or stopper for containers having a neck provided with a discharge-orifice, a cap movable longitudinally on the neck to open and close said orifice, a stem connected to the cap and slidably engaging the neck, a spring surrounding said stem for automatically adjusting the cap to one position, and means for retaining the cap in its other posiating with said groove, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY B. KENT. Witnesses: (J. A. McMURTRY,

G. W. LUNT. 

